Buying Shoes as a Gift: How to Find Their Size Without Asking

Shoes are one of the riskiest gifts to buy, and the reason is almost never the style. It's the size. A sweater that's a little too big still works, but a shoe that's half a size too small is a shoe nobody wears. If you're buying for someone else this holiday season, here's how to find the size without ruining the surprise, which styles forgive a mistake, and how to make an exchange painless if you get it wrong. For a quick overview of gift deals and sales, see our Black Friday guide. This post goes deeper on the size problem.

Find the size without asking

You can often work out someone's size just by looking at what they already wear.

• Check the shoes they already own. Most shoes have a size label on the inside of the tongue or on the lining, and some have it under the insole or on the sole. Take a quick photo of the label and the shoe's brand and model.
• Pick the right pair. Choose the pair they wear most and say is comfortable, not an old pair that's too tight or a pair that's loose and sloppy.
• Write down the brand. A size 9 in one brand isn't the same fit as a size 9 in another, and our brand sizing comparison shows how each brand tends to run.
• Do a rough length check. If the shoe has a removable insole, lift it out and measure its length with a ruler. Compare that with the brand's size chart. It's an approximation, not an exact answer.
• Ask someone close to them. A partner, parent, roommate, or friend often knows the size, and you can ask without the recipient ever hearing about it.

Common mistakes

• Guessing from height or clothing size. Neither predicts shoe size reliably.
• Mixing up men's and women's sizing. In US sizing, the two are roughly a size and a half apart, but it varies by brand, so check the chart.
• Forgetting width. If they often complain about shoes pinching across the front, a roomier shape matters as much as the number. See our wide toe box guide.
• Trusting the number on the box. Individual pairs can occasionally be off. Our sizing errors guide explains why.

If you still can't find the size

Sometimes you can't get the size without asking. In that case, choose a style that forgives a small mistake.

• Slip-ons with stretchy or knit uppers. They flex with the foot, so being a half size off matters less.
• Soft slippers. A slipper with a soft lining is one of the safest gifts, though soft linings compress with wear. Our slippers guide covers what to look for.
• Shoes with laces or adjustable straps. You can adjust the fit through the instep and ankle, though not the length.
• Brands with consistent sizing. A brand known for running true to size is a safer bet than one with inconsistent fit.

Be more cautious with fitted boots, dress shoes, and heels, where the shape has to match the foot closely. Tall boots add another problem, because the calf has to fit as well as the foot. Don't count on stretching to fix a size that's wrong, as our guide to whether shoes stretch explains.

Buying for kids

Kids' feet grow quickly, so last year's size isn't a safe guide. Ask a parent, or measure a pair the child currently wears well, and plan on a quick exchange. Our kids' shoe sizing guide shows how to measure and how often to recheck.

When a surprise isn't the best idea

If the person has specific foot needs, like wide feet or ongoing discomfort, a surprise pair can easily miss. A gift card, or involving them in the choice, is often the kinder option. And if you want to give a specific shoe, tell them it's okay to exchange it.

Make an exchange painless

• Ask for a gift receipt. It lets them swap the shoes without seeing the price.
• Check the exchange policy before you buy. Holiday return terms vary, and sale items are sometimes final sale. Our sale shopping guide explains what to check.
• Keep the box and the size. Note the size you bought, and tell the recipient how to exchange it.
• Include a note. A line like "happy to swap for a different size" removes the awkwardness.

Let ShoeCompass do the sorting

ShoeCompass has a "Shopping for someone else" toggle that sets aside your own saved profile so the recommendations are about the person you're buying for. Tell it who the gift is for, what they like, and their size if you know it, and it will suggest options and flag fit notes. It's a good way to narrow the choices before you pick.